finding the art hidden behind it all

I’m leaving for Nashville in 3 days and I have a commissioned painting I need to get done for a gallery in the Mid-West. The gallery had picked out a painting I had done in the past and asked if I could do something similar with a different color scheme. I said okay, even though I don’t particularly like doing matchy matchy paintings for decor. Makes me feel cheap sometimes, or like I’m some factory line artist. But that’s another mental obstacle I’ll talk about some other day. I had the commission about 80% done and started thinking. The gallery had told me the title of the painting I did in the past, but I had two paintings with similar titles. Both quite different, but both including the word purple. I started thinking I might be doing the wrong painting. I ran up to my office to check my email again.

Yup, wrong painting. Talk about a wave of stress and frustration. I was so mad at myself for not double checking before I started the painting. Now I have 2 days to do a 30 X 40 painting from start to finish. One good thing is that they wanted acrylic so I can get it done, but its going to be a few long nights and I have to leave to teach workshops for 5 days. I needed to blow off steam, so there’s no better remedy than a walk in the snow with our dog Tucker. I figured I’d take some pics along the way.

Our driveway is about 400 – 500 yards long. It’s not fun bringing the trash out. That’s why I use the truck :).Tucker loves sticking his head in the snowbanks to sniff the small creatures that might scurry under the snow.Getting closer to the end of the driveway.I love how the trees create such an abstract cluster of lines and shapes in the winter.There are rarely vehicles on our road, so we walk right down the middle.

I always check the beehive to make sure their door is cleared off in the front. I put my ear right up on the box to make sure I hear them buzzing away in there. We worry the winter will kill them, but they are still doing well. I could hear them vibrating away in there.The worker bees bring out the dead to their doorway and drop them out. The snow blocked the door so some of the dead didn’t quite make it out.

I can hear the rooster crowing in the chicken coop as we make our way back to the house.

After the walk I feel better. Time to go work on the commission. The right one this time. It’s gonna be a late night.

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27 thoughts on “My first big whoops of 2016”

Your surroundings look lovely. As for the mistake, we all make them but it never feels good. Good luck with getting it all done and remember to breathe!!
Oh as for feeling cheap…….you should never feel that way!! Your art whether one colour or another is beautiful.

It’s just beautiful where you live…..
I have to admit, just a little jealous.
Circumstances is part of life and I no longer live in a house.
Nope, apartment life for me.
But I just keep plugging along.
What else can we do.
I believe everything and everyone has a purpose, God will help me figure mine out.
Your art and short stories bring me joy. God bless you and yours. -And Tucker too.

I know how you feel. I don’t do commissions because it seems to take the fun and freedom out my creative flow. Makes it seems to more like work, not art, and cheapens it somehow.
Beautiful place to clear your head so you can come at it in a better frame of mind!

We all make mistakes, Tim. Take a breather once in awhile while doing the ;painting. A little break will refuel your energy. Love the photos. No snow here in New Jersey YET. I am doing some new artwork for an upcoming February Artist of the Month show for me. I know the pressure. Still need to do at least 5 more. Working in watercolor and some acrylics.

hey tim…..i don’t have a blog account…do i need one? do i have to keep checking on your Facebook account every day? i really enjoy your pictures…..its looking cold….love the story of your color special order….made me laugh and cringe at the same time….love this blogging thing….i am ready to get back to one of your videos…. i have been away for too long it seems. i am feeling hungry for the scent of oil paint….lol!

Omigosh, how frustrating. Well, you’re only human. At least you have beautiful surroundings and a sweet dog to lift your spirits! I try to distract myself, too, otherwise I’d spend the rest of the day verbally flogging myself (which I’ve done way too often). Not healthy. I know it will work out for you.

I’m glad I’m not the only one that this happens too….I so know the feeling. ..once you get settled into the painting, the muse will take over and the emotions will calm. You’ll probably end up with a painting you’re most proud of.

I enjoy your blog and especially the pictures of your dog and your walk down the driveway. I also love your paintings of trees. I like to only paint trees,,,, my mission statement is “I’m a tree, I can bend”. I try and refer to that when issues try to get me down.
Thank you Mr. Gagnon for all your inspirations. I have ordered my first lesson form you and cannot wait to start it. It is A Tale of Tall Tree Life.
I was hoping to get signed up for your Dallas workshop, but I don’t think I will be able to make it.
HAPPY NEW YEAR and I will keep watching you online.

I enjoy your blog and especially the pictures of your dog and your walk down the driveway. I also love your paintings of trees. I like to only paint trees,,,, my mission statement is “I’m a tree, I can bend”. I try and refer to that when issues try to get me down.
Thank you Mr. Gagnon for giving me inspirations. I was planning to try and make your Dallas workshop, but looks like I will just keep watching you online.

About this blog
Hi, I'm Tim Gagnon. Over the past 10 years I’ve worked really hard to become a successful artist. I’ve created a popular site where I teach painting lessons online, have my work in numerous galleries around the US and Canada, and have sold hundreds of paintings all over the world. This blog isn’t about any of that. Here, I am going to venture away from the commercial side of the art world. I hope you join me here while I rant and rave about my struggles, watch as I experiment with new techniques and ideas, and listen as I ramble away about the important things, the unimportant, and the random things in my life. If you want to see the commercial side of my art, it won’t be here, you can find it by googling my name. There won’t be any links to any of the things I sell. This place is for me to express and explore.
I like to write, play guitar, paint, draw, photograph, film… so you can expect to see all of those things while I take a year to explore being an artist.
Thanks for joining me.